Roland Glave Saunders CBE MRVCS, (12 March 1873^[1] — 10 December 1952(1952-12-10) (aged 79)) was a veterinary surgeon from Exeter, Devon, who was later elected as Sheriff of Exeter and then six-times Mayor of Exeter.

Glave Saunders was born Fore Street, Exeter, to the founder of successful local drapery business, Saunders and Mumford.^[2]

Having completed school in Exeter, he became a pupil of local veterinary surgeon, Mr James Heath.^[2]

He graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in London in 1895,^[3] and then spent 2.5 years teaching at the Colonial College in Suffolk.^[2]

Glave Saunders then relocated to Penzance, where he also served as a veterinary inspector for the Ministry of Agriculture.^[4]

In 1908, he married Gladys Martin of Penzance.^[5][6]

He worked in Penzance until 1926, when he retired on grounds of ill health.^[2]

He returned to his hometown of Exeter, and became quickly involved in local politics, firstly as a Liberal councillor for the Exwick ward.^[2]

In 1935, he was elected as Sheriff of Exeter, by which time he was already the acting-Chairman on the Public Assistance Committee, Chairman of the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee, and Deputy-Chairman of the City Mental Hospital Committee.^[2]

Glave Saunders was elected as Mayor of Exeter in 1938,^[7] and due to the demands of the Second World War continued in that position,^[8] being re-elected five times, and serving six terms, being the first mayor to do so since William Hurst who last served in 1561.^[9]

In 1945, Glave Saunders was awarded the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his service.^[10][11]

Glave Saunders died at his home in Exmouth on 10 December 1952, aged 79.^[4]